You know those mornings when you wake up and everything seems different? That’s exactly what happened to me. From one day to the next, without warning, my body decided to speak to me. Joint pains appeared, mainly in my left shoulder and right knee. It was as if my body was telling me: “Hey, we’re not young anymore ! “

At the same time, I noticed that my figure was changing. Despite my unchanged habits, the scale was showing higher and higher figures. It was both frustrating and worrying.

Faced with these changes, I did what many of us would do: I consulted doctors. One for my knee, which seemed to need surgery, the other for my general condition.

These constant aches and pains began to eat away at my zest for life. I, who was usually so dynamic and positive, found myself fighting against overwhelming fatigue. Every movement reminded me that my body was not the same as before, and this reality weighed heavily on my spirit.

My self-confidence, once unshakeable, was crumbling day by day. I felt weak, vulnerable, as if my body was betraying me. The strong, cheerful woman I had always been seemed to be slipping away, replaced by a version of myself I could hardly recognize.

The motivation that had always been my driving force also began to falter. Projects I used to undertake with enthusiasm suddenly seemed insurmountable. I found myself putting off activities I loved, simply because I no longer felt capable of tackling them.

Dark thoughts began to creep into my mind: I wondered if this situation was permanent, if I would ever regain the vitality that used to characterize me. This uncertainty fuelled a dull anxiety and sometimes plunged me into states akin to depression.

Generally speaking, my condition deteriorated, affecting all aspects of my life. At work, I didn’t perform as well as I used to. In my relationships, I felt distant, unable to share my usual joy. Even my passions seemed to have lost their sparkle, their flavor…

It was in this state of physical and emotional fragility that I embarked on my medical journey, seeking not only relief for my body, but also a way to reclaim who I was.

It was at this point that I discovered the Franklin Method®. Eric Franklin, its creator, presented an additional, non-surgical approach to knee problems. This alternative gave me new hope.

However, my concerns about weight gain persisted. In a moment of despair, I even considered unconventional slimming methods.  As you can see, I was at the end of my rope.

About six months after these initial changes, mild hot flashes began to appear. Seeking to understand what was happening to me, I decided to take a step back and go meditating in England. It was there that I felt a familiar pain, linked to my ovaries and uterus.

Back in Geneva, my gynecologist was categorical: a total hysterectomy was necessary. In other words, surgical removal of both uterus and ovaries. This news came as a shock.

Faced with the prospect of an operation, I looked for information on the Internet. My main concern ? My yoga practice. How long would it take to get back to my level?

But to my great surprise, I found nothing. No information on recovery, different surgical techniques or other women’s experiences. That’s when I realized I had to fill the void. I had to share my experience so that other women wouldn’t feel as lost as I did.

This lack of information motivated me to write and share my story. Because we women deserve to be informed and supported in these moments of transition.

When my surgeon told me about the Da Vinci robot, I thought I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. “Two months maximum convalescence ! “, he assured me. This machine, which was supposed to revolutionize surgery, promised a clean operation with no visible scars. A miracle solution, I thought.

The operation went well, technically speaking. But nobody had prepared me for what was to come. When I came out, the doctor prescribed hormones with a casualness that shocked me: “You’ll see, in a month you’ll feel young ! ” His words sounded like an empty promise, not understanding the depth of what I was going through.

We often hear it said that “in our grandmothers’ day, they didn’t need hormones”. True, but that’s comparing apples and oranges. Our grandmothers lived in a less polluted, less stressful world. Today, our bodies have to face up to hitherto unknown challenges.

Lisa Mosconi, a pioneering researcher in the field of women’s health, highlights the extent to which our medical system has neglected the specificities of the female body. Her work is a pivotal point, reminding us of the importance of informing ourselves and not turning a blind eye to our needs as women.

A month after the operation, hormones transformed my daily life. Suddenly, I was enjoying life again. Dark days brightened, and a sense of renewal came over me. My body and mind seemed to realign, allowing me to rediscover the joy of living.

These hormones became my lifeline, providing indispensable support in the face of modern challenges. They helped me regain a balance I thought I’d lost. I realized that taking hormones is not a sign of weakness, but a necessary adaptation to our stressful times.

Yet, despite this improvement, something inside me remained unfinished. The doctors had solved the physical problem, but what about my deeper emotions? No one had explained to me why I felt so empty, so heavy.

I still had an inner journey to make, a journey of acceptance of my new reality.

It was during a meditation stay in England that everything changed. Facing my teacher, Bhante Bodhidhamma, I burst into tears. His question struck me like a bolt of lightning: “Have you grieved for your organ ? “.

Those words opened the floodgates. Losing an organ is like losing a family member, it’s losing a part of yourself, literally. It’s not just a physical issue, it’s deeply emotional and mental. Why didn’t anyone tell me about this ? Doctors fix the physical problems, but they often forget the emotional side. Who takes care of our hearts and minds? It’s up to us, and it’s an essential process.

For two weeks, I worked on my grief. Each meditation was a step towards acceptance. I cried, I raged, I accepted. And little by little, a heaviness went away.

It was as if a veil had been lifted. I understood that my excesses, my compensations, stemmed from this unacknowledged loss. Once I’d grieved, I no longer needed those emotional crutches.

Imagine yourself in India, face to face with your guru. There I found myself, anxious, with only 15 minutes to ask THE question: “Are there any yoga postures that can help me ? “. I was initially taken aback by his answer: “It’s all a question of genes“.

But he didn’t stop there. He gave me a valuable list of specific postures for the female organs. His most important advice ? “Keep practicing, adapt, but don’t stop. ” These words still resonate with me today.

Back in Geneva, I consulted Dr Carolina Maurer-Pajic. Her approach surprised me: “We’re entering a great age, the age of experience“. She encouraged me to see this phase not as a decline, but as an opportunity.

Her message was clear: get moving, work on muscle density, stimulate the mind. And hormones ? “For those who can take them, it’s really better,” she told me. That’s when she mentioned Lisa Mosconi and her work on the link between hormones and cognition.

And now, my friends, we’re in for a shock. Lisa Mosconi’s TED talk was a real revelation. I learned that three times as many women as men suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Why do women suffer from Alzheimer’s ? Because of the menopause.

Mosconi explains that during the menopause, we lose half our brain energy. It’s brutal, it’s frightening, but it’s a reality we’re not told. And what’s more, studies show that taking hormones may slow this phenomenon.

My dear friends, this journey has not always been easy. There have been moments of doubt, fear and anger. But every step of the way has made me stronger and wiser. If you’re going through something similar, know that you’re not alone. Don’t be afraid, don’t be ashamed. Your body is changing, your mind too, and that’s normal.

Don’t let society tell you that you’re “finished” or “less of a woman”. This period is an opportunity to rediscover and reinvent yourself.

Get informed, ask questions, demand answers. Don’t be ashamed of what you’re going through. Each of us deserves to live through this transition with dignity and understanding.

Together, let’s break the silence. Let’s share our experiences and discoveries. That’s how we’ll change the perception of menopause – not as an end, but as a new beginning !

Remember, our grandmothers may have remained silent, but we have the right and the duty to express ourselves. Your health, your well-being, your story are important. Together, we can break the silence and pave the way for better understanding and care of our female health.

Me ? No Pause! Life goes on, richer, deeper, more authentic than ever.

Vesta’s Words

Thanks to Nagendra Prasad, Simone Braganza, Alison Wesley, Maryline Mestre and Yves Rouchon for their contribution to this project!